Ohio Wesleyan alumnus Branch Rickey (1904) and the Branch Rickey-Jackie Robinson Legacy

Ohio Wesleyan held a special Branch Rickey-Jackie Robinson Week from Jan. 24-27, 2011, to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of these men in integrating Major League Baseball. Their actions to end racial segregation in professional sports preceded and helped set the stage for the U.S. Civil Rights movement.

"Branch Rickey's commitment to racial equality was solidified during his time as a student and baseball coach at Ohio Wesleyan after he witnessed the despair of a black athlete denied hotel lodging with his white teammates," said University President Rock Jones, Ph.D. "As Rickey watched the distraught athlete pulling at his skin, Rickey vowed that if he ever had the chance to help end segregation, he would do so without hesitation. A man of his word, Rickey changed history when, as president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed Jackie Robinson."

During the week, Ohio Wesleyan presented its Branch Rickey Award to Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, founder of The Jackie Robinson Foundation, for her "exceptional personal contribution and commitment to the goal of full equality for all." Afterward, the University announced that the award was being renamed the "Branch Rickey-Jackie Robinson Award presented by Ohio Wesleyan University" to better reflect the men's legacy and partnership.

This video, created with the assistance of OWU alumnus Tom Goodman (1976) of Goodman Media International and video producer/editor Eric Paulen, shares the story of this history-changing relationship, including comments from Rickey's grandson, Branch B. Rickey, and Robinson's daughter, Sharon Robinson.

Learn more about the Branch Rickey-Jackie Robinson legacy at http://rickeyrobinson.owu.edu.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Ohio Wesleyan
• OWU
• Branch Rickey
• Jackie Robinson
• Branch B. Rickey
• Sharon Robinson
• baseball
• Major League Baseball
• Brooklyn Dodgers
• civil rights
• segregation
• color barrier
• racism
• 1947

[Soccer4Peace1]

It takes one bad apple to destroy the school great reputation. I often spot good people in every place. Some people possess the 7th Sense Capacity. I urge Mr. Jones to continue on preserving the Social Acceptance and Respect of students from the struggle of Mr. Jackie Robinson. One of my Black American heroes. A great society is made up of honorable individuals, and only these types of humans make all the positive difference to all Society.

[90airmax]

when jay z move the net's he's the black branch rickey